Wire-fence machine



Dec. 2, `1930. w. H. soMMER nu nuca mmm rund Jan. 14, 1929 10 Sheng-Sheet l Deu-2,1m. VJ-sow 1,183,946

mm rasca lucana mud Jan. 14, 192s wants-sheet 2 i INV E 'N1-:1a.

Dec. 2. 1930. w. H. SOMMER imm FENCE uAcHm Filed Jan. 14. 1929 l 1o sheets-sheet s INYENTGE- Dec. 2, 1930.- w. H. SOMMER 1,783,946

wins FENCE MACHINE filed aan. 14, 1929 Dea-2,1930. w HfsoMMER 15,783,946

WIRE FENCE MACHINE rnqd' Jan. 14, 1929 '10 sheets-sheet e Dec. 2, 1930i. w. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Dec. 2, 1930. H. sown-:R Y 1,183,946

uns mms nmina A filed dan. 14, 19129l -10 Sheets-sheet 10 LA "Le INYEN'IEF..

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Patented 2, .1930i UNITED sTATi-:s

PATENT. oFFlcl-:f

w'rLi-.u'x n. somma, or rnonu, rumors -WIBE-FENCE MACHINE Applicationllled January4 14, 1192-8. Serial Imm.

This invention has reference to a wireV fence' machine, and it relates particularly to that type of such machine on which may bemanuactured light weight poultry nettin s and 5 preferably what is known as straig t-line poultr fence, the wires constituting which, are o very light gauge.

.The machine embodies lthe principle of the rotary idea; that is to say, the fabric V l" or netting is woven on a rotating drum which means for reciprocating said rack-bars during the rotation of the drum.

The invention has for a further obJect the arrangement and disposition of the twisters of the alternate rows of twisters, whereby to allow, in part, the necessary wirein the warp or strand wires to` provide for the twist thereof with the weft or Woof wires, and when twisted to obviate and prevent contraction of the netting and as a result kept the fabric tautan'd straight.V

The invention has or a further object to improve the means for directing and laying the weft or Woofv wires and t e warp or strand wires in the paths of the twisters, during the rotation of the drum and in the provision of means for depressing the weft or w Woof wires and the warp or strand wires in the twisters, as they are moved into receiving position, as the drum is rotated; whereby, the necessary wire is laid into thetwisters to provide the material suilicient for the twisting of thewires together without straining or stretching the wires Ain twisting.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of means for automatically stop- `ping the machine on the breaking of any one ofthe weft or woof wires or'any one ofthe warp or strand wires, -and of meansto graphically indicate tothe o erator which Vone of the many wires has bro en; whereby,

a prompt replacement or rethreading, as the case may be, may be effected.l

A further object of the invention is in a means for electrically operating the means resulting inthe stoppage of the machine.

The prompt and eilicient sto page of the machine, on a wire breaking, an the employment of an indicating means, by which the operator may be instantly'apprised of which' v of the wires broke, is occasioned by the style and character of the netting being woven and'the'multiplicity of wires required in a netting of this character. When it isunderstood that these nettings4 are made "in heights of six yfeet and over and that the warp or strand wires are spaced approximately one inch apart and that weft or Woof wires are Woven to connect adjacent Warp orstrand wires, the value of such a stopping and indicating means will become readily apparent.

Other and further objects will more fully appear from the followlng description.

That the invention ma be more fully understood, reference is h to the accompanying drawings forming 'part of this description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, inwhich l Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodylng my invention, the same being shown broken lin two thereby shortening the length of the drum and wire connecting means, which maybe of any desired length;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe machine, looking in at the right hand side of Fig.1, the wire breaking indicator being omitted;

Fig. I3 is a vertical cross-section thru the machine, as the same would appear if taken on the line 33, Fig. 1, the wire breaking indicator bein omitted; v

Fig; 4 is a. etail spot view in plan, partly in section and partly broken away, showing the rack-bar shifting/means;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, as the same would appear, taken thru Fig. 4;

Fig- 6 is a detailspot view, in section, as the same' would appear if taken on the line 6-6,Fig.4=;

Fig-i7 is a spot view, in front elevation, partly in section and partll broken away, showing the mechanism for aying the Wires in the twisters;

Fig. 8 is a detail in section, as the same would appear if taken on the line 88, Fig. 7 and including a part of the drum and wire twister means and a part of the wire depresser or packer;

Fig. 9 is a view somewhat similar to Fi 8, except that it is as it would appear if ta en on the line 9-9, Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view t0 show the structure of the wire depresseror packer;

Fig. 11 is a spot view in front elevation,

y partly in section showing the rack-bar and twister arrangement and manner of assembling the same;

Fig. 12 is a detail in cross-section as the same would appear if taken on the line 12g-12, Fig. 11;

' Fig. 13 is a spot view, in plan, showing the manner of laying the warp or strand wires and the weft or woof wires in the twisters, on the drum, and the manner of moving the weft or Woof Wiresk back and forth from one warp or strand wire to the other;

Fig. 14 is a spot view, showing the linished straight-line poultry fence made on the machine; f

Fig. 15 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing the arrangement of the mechanism for indicating to the operator the location of a wire which may break and including the means for electrically actuating the 'mechanisrn for stopping the machine on the breaking of a wire;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a detail in section, as the same would appear if taken on the line 17-17 Fig. 15, showing the indicator means in its relation to a timing and depresser shaft and an electrical contact;

Fig. 18 is a detailin section of the timer, as the same would appear if taken on the line 18-18, Fig. 15, showing the position of its contact members in their relation to the indicator mechanism in Fig. 17, at predetermined positions of such mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a view somewhat similar'to Fig. 17 except that the timing and depresser shaft is in a diii'erent position, having made part of a revolution and the indicator means has also moved;

Fig. 20 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 18 and shows the timer Contact members in relative positions in relation to the predetermined position of the indicator vmeans in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a sectional detail, in planof the timer as it would appear if taken on the line 21-21, Fig. 18;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged spot view', in plan, of the indicator mechanism shown in Fig. 15;

23 isan elevation,.partly in section, of what` is shown in Fig. 22, and of the parts shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 24 is a detail in perspective showing a wire guide associated with an indicator member; p

Fig. 25 is a detail in perspective showing the end of an indicator member on which is placed an indicator character, such as a numeral or other designating symbol to provide a graphic guide for the operator in locating a wire which has broken;

Fig. 26 is a detail in plan, partly broken away, showing the clutch shifting mechanism for automatically stopping the machine on the breaking of a wire, including a. solenoid locking and releasing means;

Fig.' 27 is an elevation of what is shown in Fi 26, the clutch shifting mechanism in loc ed position;

Fig. 28 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 27, except that the solenoid has been energized releasing the clutch shifting mechanismwhich has been caused to move to clutch shifted position, and

Fig. 29 is a wiring diagram including the indicator mechanism, timer and solenoid.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts thruout the gures.

In describing the machine I have designated the frame enerally,.as 1; so that the use of the term fr'ame thruout the specification will include any and all frame parts, of whatever character they may be, which support, brace and connect the several machine elements.

For use in driving or operating the numerous movable elements of the machine,l I preferably employ'an electric motor A, see Figs. 1 and 2, which is mounted on the topof the frame at one side of the machine.

In the machine assembly there are numerous shafts of which 2 designates the driving and cam shaft; 3 the drum shaft; 4 the takeoff shaft or mandrel; 5 the eccentric shaft; 6 and 7 counter-shafts; 8 a timer shaft and 5a crank-shafts.

The driving and cam shaft 2 is adapted to be driven .direct from the motor A thru and by means of a link-belt 9, sprocket Wheel 9a and clutch parts 10 and 11, the latter movable into and out of clutch connection with the clutch part 10. A lever bar 12 associated with the clutch part 11 and having a pivotal lconnection ,with .the frame, beingprovided Said shaft 2 is geared for this purpose. direct to the drum shaft 3 thru a gear pinion 13 and a gear 14 and is, also, geared direct to the eccentric shaft 5 thru gearing 15 and 16. The take-off shaft or mandrel 4 is belted to the drive and cam shaft 2 by means of a belt 17 and pulley Wheels 18 and 19, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with the belt 17 engaging the usual beltl tightener 20, see Fig. 1. The crankshafts 5'* are geared direct to the driving andV cam shaft 2 thru bevel gears' 21 and 22, see- Fig. 1. The counter shaft 6 is driven from v the driving and camjshaft 2 thru a sprocket from the driving and cam shaft 2 thru a sprocket chain 24, see Figs. 2, and 16 and connected sprocket wheels on the respective shafts and the timer shaft 8 is geared direct to and driven from the counter shaft 7, thru gears and 26, see Figs. 15 and `16. The take-off shaft or jmandrel 4 is not unlike similar parts in machinesl of this character and further than stating that the finished netting is wound on this shaft and the shaft constructed so that the mandrel may be removed with a finished roll of netting, nothing further need be said, as this is common to machines of this character. All the above enumerated shafts are suitably journaled or have bearings on the machine frame, as will of course, be understood.

' The drum shaft 3 is provided with an en.- largementr3 preferably extendin between uprights of the frame and said en argement forms or provides the core ofthe drum on and about which the twisters, rack-bars and operating means are mounted. Suchstructure is best seen vin Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12. At opposite ends ofthe core 3 arelocated cylindrical casings 27, which extend inwardly of the core, from the uprights of the frame, for a suitable distance. These casings 27 have a wall depth or thickness, wherein may be provided a multiplicity ofradially disposed longitudinally arranged slots or seats 28 which open out of the peripheral faces of .said casings, see Fig. l2. The opposite `walls of the slots or seats 28 are arallel thruoutl their greatest depth, from t e periphery of the casings, then converge toward each other vto the base of such slots or seats and in one of said parallel walls there is provided a` longitudinal groove 29. Seated in the slots or seats 28 of each casing 27 and extending ltherebetween and longitudinally of the core 3a are complementary rack supporting and guide bars 30 which have outer surface formations corresponding to the walls of the slots or seats 28, see Fig. 12, and said bars 30 are joined at their base portions within said seats or slots 28 and at their. outer or exposed portions beyond the surface` ofthe casings 27. Between such joined portions, said bars 30 are spaced apart to provide guides 31 for the reception and guidance of reciprocal rackbars 32, with which, have 'a meshing relation f with slotted toothed twister pinions 33 having hub portions journaled for rotation in bearing seats formed or provided in 'the matching faces of the bars 30 and said bars 30, in radial disposition'coincident with the axes of said twisters are slotted, as at 34 for` the entrance of wires thereinto .and to the slots inthe vtwisters. The outer'surfaces of each set of bars, around the drum, are provided with a succession of inclined vportions 35,V starting with a shouldered portion 36, at one-slot and beyond the surface of a twister anlltenninatin at the next succeeding slot approximately ushwith the peripheral surface of the coincident twister. These inclined surfaces of alternate sets of bars 30 extend from a shouldered ortion 36 in one direction, the length of the ars and in the next Iand alternate sets of bars such inclinations extend in the opposite direction, for purposes which will more fully appear. One of such bars 30, of each set of bars, is provided with a rail 37, Asee Fig. 12 fitting a longitudinal groove29 and these rails in conjunction with the joining of the sets of bars 30 prevent,

radial displacement of such bars in the casngs 27 `Thealternate rack-bars, at opposite ends, have connected therewith plates 38 which -carry rollers 39 disposed above the surfaces of said rack-bars, see Fig. 5, and surrounding the casings 27 and the rack-bars mounted thereon are cam rings 40 having cam grooves 41 in which travel the rollers 39, as the shaft 3, casings 27 and rack-bars and twisters are rotated. These camrings are enclosed within sectional housings 42 securedtogether and to the uprights of the frame. The inner ends of said housings are faced by spacing rings 43 with which abut the ends of the sets of bars v30. As will -be i seen from an examination o f Figs. 4, 5 and 6, .the cam rings 40 are split, as at 44, with a space therebetween and that such split portions are at the top side of the drum and the cam grooves at one end terminate at or near one end of the cam rings and their opposite ends terminate 'at or near the opposite ends of said cam rings.

Also, as will be seen from an examination of Fig. 4, the rollers 39 on the rack-bars emerge from the camgrooves 41 and enter the split movement of the rack-bars is between the point of emergence of the rollers 41'leaving one end of a cam groove, their travel along or thru the split portions of the cam rings and again entering the cam grooves. The rollers 39 on entering a cam groove, see Fig. 4, have movement which withdraw the rack-barsL III) cam groove at the.` split portion of the cam in aforwrd direction, to operate the twisters to connect the weft or Woof wires and warp or strand wires, I providepushing and switching bars 45, see Fig. 4; it being understood that after each twisting operation the rackbars are returned-to initial starting position by the rollers 39 being caused to traverse the cam grooves 41, referred to.` There are two such bars 45, one at each end of the drum and having a timed relation with respect to each other so that they are operative alternately to reciprocate the alternate and successive rack-bars as they are moved into position by the drum. These bars have the free end or foot portions 46, whereas their opposite or outer end portions have a pivotal connection with cranks 47 connected with the lower end portions of the crank shafts 5. As the groove.

is rotated and the bar 45 moved forwardly,

shafts 5a rotate, the bars 45 have reciprocal movement longitudinally of the drum, and the free end or foot portions thereof travel back and forth in the split portions 44 of the cam rings 40. The movement of these bars are so timed in their relation to the rotation of the drum and the positioning of the alternate rack-bars for operation, that the foot portions of said bars assume a position substantially as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, so that the acting face of such foot portions become in effect eontinuations of the cam 41 and immediately on the rollers 39 coming into contact with a foot 46 the bar 45 is moved forwardly switching the roller 39 from its position of discharge or emergence from the cam groove 41 to its entering position in such In the meantime -and as the drum the roller 39 moves across the face of the foot 46 of the-bar 45, as shown by the dotted line in Fig, 4, and the rack bar of the respective roller acted upon is reciprocated forward to operate a row of twisters for connecting the wires. The forward and acting ends of the bars45 are free but are guided in the split portions of the cam rings 40, as the cranks. 47 are rotated, by a fixed -cam surface 48 disposed on one side of travel of said bars 45 and by a roller 49 held under tension of a spring 50, on theother side of travel of said bars. I prefer that the reciprocal forward movement of the bars 45 shall be started slowly and the y speed of the stroke increased during their movement and graduallydecreased to the end ofthe stroke and accomplish this in the provision of the cranks 47, and the arrangement is such that when the forward movements of the bars 45 begin, the pivotal connection between the bars 45 and the cranks 47 is ap'- proximately at dead center, see Fig. 4.

The slots 34 in one set of bars 30, in their relation to corresponding slots in thenext succeeding set of bars 30 are slightly offset; or in other words, the slots 34 in the alternate sets of bars are slightly staggered in their relation to each other, as is best seen in Fig. 13. This arrangement will allow, in part, for the ne'cessary wire in the warp or strand wires to provide for the twist thereof with the weft or woof wires and when twisted to obviate and prevent contraction of the warp or strand wires between the respective twists therein and as a result keep the fabric taut and straight.

I have designated the weft or woof wires a and the warp or stranil wires b. These wires are fed into the machine from suitable blocks, spools or other supply means, not shown, and in passing to the machine have association with certain indicator and stop mechanism to be described. Both the wires a and b are directed over a roller or individual wheels 51, as the case may be, on the counter shaft 7 and in addition the wires a are directed under a roller or individual wheels 52, as the case may be, on the counter shaft 6. The wires a arev directed to and laid on the drum and guided to the twisters 33 by means of reciprocally supported bushings 53, one for each wire a and thru which theV wires a are threaded and have movement These bushings comprise a set and will be referred to as the lower set of bushings, and each of said bushings are removably held in a common slide bar 54 dovetailed to have endwise sliding movement in a support of the frame of the machine, see Figs. 8 and 9. One

end of the bar 54 is provided with a toothed A and cam shaft 2. On examining Fig. 7 it will be observed that these cam wheels are adjustable axially of and on the shaft 2 t0 regulate the stroke of the lever 57 and the movement of the bar 54. The wires b are'directed to and laid on the drumrand guided to the twisters 33 by means of reciprocally supported bushings 62, one for each wire b and thru which the wires b are threaded and have movement. These bushings comprise a set and will be referred to as the upper set of bushings, and each of saidl bushings are movably held in a common slide bar 63 dovetailed to have endwise sliding movement in the same support of the frame carrying the bar 54, see Figs. 8 and 9. One end of the bar 63 carries a -roller 64 having contact with and adapted to be acted upon by complementary cam surfaces 65 of matching and spaced cam` wheels 66 carried on and rotatable with'the drivin and cam shaft 2. On examining Fig. 7 it'wlll be observed that these cam wheels,

like the cam wheels 61, are adjustable and for' a much longer strke orreciprocal movement to said bar than will the corresponding partsy or mechanism for the bar 63. `The reason for this should be readily apparent. The upper set of bushings 62, thru which the warp or strand wires b are fed, need only have suicient sidewise movement to position such wires that they maybe receivedin the corresponding slots 34 of the 'successive sets of bars 30, which, as previously stated, have a slight staggeredv relation with respect to each other. This movement and extent thereof can be best seen and understood on referring to Fig. 13. The lowerA set of bushings 53, thru which the weft' or Woof-wires a are fed,

' must have suicient sidewiseV movement `to angular positions to insure proper and reguosition such wires that they lmay be received 1n alternate slots 34 and by the coincidenttwisters, of the spccessive sets of bars 30. In

other words, looking at Fig. 13, a bushing 53 sty e'and character of mesh in the netting, ex-v hibited in Figs. 13 and 14. During the sidewise movements of the bushings 53, and as the-wires a are directed over the surfaces of the sets of bars 30 and from one slot 34 to the other, theshoulders 36. on said bars 3 0 form abutments to holdv the wires in their lar mesh formations, as seen in Fig. 13. The shoulders 36 of the successive sets of bars 30 are alternately dis osed, as explained, since the'successive rackars are alternatelyshifted in opposite directions and the bushingsv 53 are moved back and forth from the positionl of one warp or strand wire to another. These upper and lower sets of bushings 62 and 53, respectively, have their delivery ends s'o dis-l posed in relation to the rotation of the .drum

and .the twisters-thereon that the wires a and b arelaid into each row of twisters as they assume a position almost perpendicular to a lvertical line intersecting the axis of the drum,

- 45 the operationl of the rack-bars and thel see. Fig. 3 and as will be understood from the operation of the pushing and switching bars twisters begins when such. rack-bars have assumed a position at the top of the drum or one perpendicular to a vertical line intersecting the axis of the drum and the'twisting is done during a very short travel of said drum andit is during a short travel of the rollers 39 'in the more or less concentric portions of the 'cams lil-that the completed twisted portions of the wires a and bare removedfrom the sets of bars 30 and twisters 33 carried thereby, and thev completed netting caused to pass over astationary gui 7 which holds the netting under tensionas it is rolled upon the take-off shaft .or mandrel4.

The means for depressing or packing the weft lor Woof wires fand the warp or strand wires in the slots 34 in the bars 30 and in the twister pinions 33 journaled in said bars, is best seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 10, and comprises preferably a frame 68 disposed above and axially ofthe drumand suspended and lmovable up and down ortoward and from ythe drum by means of two or more supports 69 having an eccentric connection with the shaft 5. The frame 68`is arranged to' coactwith each set of bars 30 and their twisters as they assume positions at the top of the drum, as the drum' is revolved, when said frame is moved downwardly in an overlying position with respect to the row of twisters and engaging the wires depresses or packs them into the slots 34 of the set of bars 30` and into the slpts ,of the twisters 33 to insure'their being properly and eiciently twisted together, when and as the twisters are rotated. Such depressing of the wires results in the necessary'warp or strand wire being drawn into the twisters to provide the necessary material for the twists with the `weft or` Woof wires, whereby there is no straining or stretching of such wires during twisting and as a result'of the continuous rotation of the drum. Furthermore, I provide. for an approximate rotarymotion being imparted to the frame 68 as it approaches and leaves a. set of bars 30 and the twisters car- -ried thereby, whereby the frame enters into msh engagement with certain of thewires, as the twistersA assume twisting position,

moves forward with the twisters a short distance, then as the twistingis completed to be removed from suc-h mesh engagement preparatory to coaction with the next and successive row of twisters. This movement is vcreated by the eccentric connection between the supports 69 andthe shaft 5 and thru the provision of the reach bar connections 70, see Figsuand 10 which have a pivotal connection with the supports 69 and a frame part of the machine. The mesh engagement of the frame 68 with certain wires in the nett-ing is made possible by constructing the frame 68 of parallel spaced bars 71, which, when the frame 68 is lowered will straddle a set of bars 30 and twisters carried thereby, and the lower edges of said bars'71 are provided with wire receiving grooves or slots 7 2 tol receive Y wires back and forth between adjacent warp or strand wires.

Referring now to the means for graphically indicating to the operator the exact wire and the exact position of a wire broken and to the means for electrically actuating the lever bar 12 for thrwing the clutch which stops the machine, it is to be borne in mind that the wires a and b are led into the machine from blocks, reels, spools or other supply means located to the rear of the machine and that such blocksfreels, spools or other supply means have corresponding designations to the respective indicator means for each wire, to guide the operator in the quick selection of wire to replenish or rethread the machine, as the case may be. Such blocks, reels, spools or other sup ly means are omitted as they form no part o the present invention.

The indicator mechanism includes the timer shaft 8, previously. described as being driven from the shaft 2. Said timer shaft for f the greater portion of its length is 'flattened out as at 73, see Figs. 17, 19 and 23 to give it considerable cross-sectional area, and to give it a cam effect on the wires a and b and provides, therefore, a depresser portion to engage and depress the wires a and b at each v half. revolution of said timer shaft, as the wires cross below the said shaft. Said wires a and b ,at the rear and front of said` shaft 8 are guided thru the guide tubes 74 and 75,

suitably held in the machine frame. Asso-` ciated with the depresser portion 73 of the shaft 8 are a multlplicity of parallel spaced indicator lever arms or plates 76, see Figs. -17, 19, 22 and 24 which are pivoted at 77 to 'a frame part and said arms or plates are there is a lever arm or plate 76 for each of the respective wires a and b. Each .lever arm or plate is provided with a downwardly projecting portion 78, disposed to the rear of the portion 73 of shaft 8 and to each projecting portion is connected a depending slotted wire guide 79 thru which a wire a or b passes.

IWhen such a' wire assumes, vas in this instance, a substantially horizontal position and under tension, the wire bears upwardly against the seat of the slotted guide 79, moving the lever arm or plate 76 on its pivot and moves a c tact armv80 thereof out of con-v tact with a contact member 81'insulated from the frame. On the other" hand, when the depresser portion 73 of the shaft 8 engages the several wires a and b and depresses the said wires, 'as seen in'Figs. 19 and 23, the wires are depressed in the slotted'guide 79 of their respective lever arms or plates 76 permitting said armsor plates to move forward on their pivots, resultin in the contact 80 moving into contact wit the member l81. -The lever arms or plates 76, under normal oierative conditions move simultaneously an in unison to their lower or contact positions,b weight of gravity, as the elongated ends of t e depresser portion 73 of the shaft 8 ride against and depress the wires a and b from against the seats in the slotted wire guides 79, andare similarly moved to noncontct positions when the elon ated ends of the depresser portion 73 of t e shaft 8 move out of contact with .the wires a and b permitting the tension in the wires to bear against the seats of the slotted guides 79 and move said lever plates or arms to the noncontacting positions shown in Figs. 17 and 23. Each of the lever arms or plates 76 are formed or provided with a forward extension or indicator arm 82 which overlie and extend forward of the portions 73 of thev shaft 8, see

Figs. 17, 19 and 23 and'their ends bent atl .h right angles as at 83, see Figs. 22 and 25, to provide at surfaces or faces on which appears a graphic indicator of some sort, such for instance a number, which is preferable, or other indicatin symbol. Using numbers, there is one each 1n numerical order correspondin to the number of wires employed in ma ingthe netting. And as will be understood, each number corresponds to a number on a block, reel, spool or other supply means at the rear of the machine, and

the operator noting the particular indicator denoting a wire broken can immediately and without loss of time trace it to its source and replenishor rethread the machine. The indicator works with the same effect if a Wire is permitted to be used up before rethreadng or resupplying the machine.

It is pointed outthat the indicator arms 82, under normal operative, conditions, have their indicating faces-lying in the same horizontal plane across the machine and in full view. of the operator and move down and up simultaneously and in unison, unless and` until a Wire or wires break, inwhich event the arm or arms corresponding to broken wires will drop into contacting position when the electrical circuit is completed to cause a stoppage of the machine. face or faces of such last mentioned arms will be out of line with the other arms and hence the operator on scanning the indicators will observe these atonce and be guided thereby in replenishing or rethreading the machine.

The indicator seen that thertension, therefore, present in such a wire, as would be the case in Fig. 17

' having been'removed from its respective lever'` arm or plate 76, that it will naturally drop by weight-of gravity and cause its contact' 80 to move intocontact with the contact member 81 and close an electric circuit to energize` something to disconnect the clutch control ling the operation of the machine. It can be further assumed that if a-Wirebreaks at a point leaving some tension Iin the Wire at the point of the portion 73 of the shaft 8, that it only requires a one half revolution of said shaft to have an elongated end `of the flattened portion 73 thereof engage and depress the wire, as in Fig. 19, removing such tension, thereby permitting the lever arm or plate 76 to drop and make the necessary contact to close an electric circuit.-

The' means employed to operate the lever 12 controlling the clutch part 11 includes a timer 84 on the end of the shaft 8, see Figs. 15, 18, 20 and 21, a -solenoid 85 disposed on the vfront of the machine, see Fig. 1, also Figs.'26, 27 and28, the contact members 80 and 81, and certain wiring to be referred Referring to the timer 84, it includes the diametrically located immovable contacts 86,

and the associated `contact l87 rotatable with Figs. 17 and 18, and Figs. 19 and -20.. As'-v suming operating conditions to be normal, the contact 87 and a contact 86 are in engagement during the period when the tension in the wires a and b will cause a removal of the contacts 80 from engagement with the member 81, and contrariwise, when the contact 87 and a contact 86 are in non-en` gagement, the depresser portion 73 of the shaft 8 is depressing the wires a and b, per` relectrical circuit to be described will become .f

closed and the solenoid 85 energizedl to operate'theclutch lever 12. Before describing this latter connection it should be noted that the frame o f the machineforms a ground for the contacts 80 and 81`and valsoy for the lcontact 87 of the timer.

Referring now tov the-lever'12, it has a.

pivotal connection with' an operators rod 88 which extends across the front of the machine, .see Fig. 1, and movably supported in shimmei uides on the frame. vAlso movableonthe rame and in suitable guides and in parallel-.relation with.- land'connected to the operators rod 88,is'abar 89. This bar has a hand-hold 9 0 and also a pawl 91 which is adapted to have a locking engagement with a laminated lever 92 in Ipivotal rela- -tion with the solenoid 85 and a stopmember 93. vConnected with the pawl 91 and, therefore, the bar v89 is a tenslon spring 94 which' also has connection with a frame part of the machine. v

Assuming the clutch parts 10 and 11 to be in engagement and the machine in operation, being the position of the parts in Figs. 1 and 27 ,t it will be observed that the pawl 91 is in locked engagement with the lever 92.

Just as soon, however, as the solenoid is venergized the lever 92N isI drawn upward which will release the pawl 91 allowing'the spring 94 to act to move the bar'89 and the operators rod 88 outwardly to the side of the machine which will move the lever 12. and

`disengage the clutch parts 10 and 11, rei `to drop into enga ement with the stop 93 and the bar 89 an operatorsrod 88 moved from the nonoperative position in Fig. 28 to the operative position in Figs. 1 and 27. v The wiring diagram in Fig. 29 together with Figs. 1, 17 to 21 inclusive and Figs. 26 to 28 inclusive very clearly indicate the source of .the electric currentto impart operative movement to parts controlling the stoppage of the machine on Ithe lbreakin of a wire.

L The source of the electric current is traced thru L1 to the solenoid 85 and fromy the lat? ter to the contact. members 80 and 81, assuming they are in contact; thence thru the machine frame, which is the ground, to the contacts 87 and either of 86, assuming they are in contact. and to the source of supply thru the line L2. The flow of the current is controlled, as above pointed out by the makingv and breaking of the contacts 86 and 87, at the timer and the contacts 80 and 81 at each of the indicator members 76.

llVhat'I'claim is 1. In a wire fence machine,iin combination, a rerolublo drum including spaced circumferentially arranged radial seats opening out of the surface of the drum, the opposite Walls of said i seats being parallel for the greater part of their depth and then converging toward each other, one such wall having a longitudinally disposed groove, pairs of guide bars in each seat joined at their base in the seats and also eXteri'orly of the drum and one portions of each pair of guide bars exteriorly of the drum and in meshing relation with a rack-bar.

2. In a wire fencemachine, in combination, '1 revoluble drum including spaced circumferentially arranged radial seats opening out of the surface of the drum, the opposite walls of said seats being( parallel for the greater part of their depth and then converglngtoward each other, one such wall having a longitudinally disposed groove, pairs of guide bars in each seat joined at their base inthe seats and also exteriorl of\the drum and one such bar having a rib tting said groove, the exposed portions of said bars being slotted `at predetermined spa-ced points and the exposed edges of the bars having inclined faces etween slots, a rack-bar reciprocally carried between each pair of guide bars, and a multiplicity of slotted twister wheels journaled,

in the pairs of bars, one each coincident with a slot 111 said bars -and in meshing relation with a rack-bar.

3. In a wire fence machine, in combination, i revoluble drum including spaced circumferentially arranged radial seats opening out of the surface of the drum, the opposite walls of said seats being parallel for the greater part of their depth and then converging towardv each other, one such wall having a longitudinally disposed groove, pairs of: guide bars in each seat joined-at their base in the seats and also exteriorly of the drum and one such bar having a rib litt-ing said groove, the eX- posed portions of said bars beingslotted at predetermined spaced oints and the exposed edges of the bars havzng inclined faces between slots, the slots in the bars of alternate pairs of oars being slightly staggered in their relation to each other circumferentially of the drum, a racl'r-bar reciprocally carried between each pair of guide bars, and a multiplicity of slotted twister wheels'journaled in the pairs of bars, one each coincident with a slot in said bars and in meshing relation with a rack-bar.

4. In a wire fencemachine, in combination,

a revoluble drum including spaced circumferentially arranged radial seats opening out of the surface of the drum, the opposite walls of sai d seats being parallel for the greater part of their depth and then converging toward each other, one such wall having a longitudinally disposed groove. pairs of guide bars in each seat joined at their base in the seats and also exteriorly of the drum and one such bar having a. rib fitting said groove, the exposed portions of said bars being slotted at predetermined spaced points and the exposed edges of *he bars having inclined faces between slots, the inclinations in alternate pairs of bars exe tending in opposite directions and the slots in the bars of alternate pairs of bars being slightly staggered in their relation to each other circumferentially of the drum, a rackmaaar@V guide bars, and a multiplicity of slotted twister wheels journaled in the pairs of bars, one eac-h coincident with a slot in said bars and in meshing relation with a rack-bar.

5. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum including spaced circumferl entially arranged radial seats opening out of the surface of the drum, the opposite walls of said seats being parallelg-,for the greater part' of their depthand then converging toward each other, one such wall having a'longitudit nally disposed groove, rpairs of guide bars in each seat joined at their base in the seats and also exteriorly of the drum and one such bar having a rib fitting said groove, the exposed portions of said bars being slotted/at predetermined spaced points and the exposed edges of the bars having inclined faces between slots, whereby one wall of each slot provides an abutment for a wire.

6. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum .including pairs of radially arranged bars spaced about said drum,

each set of barsbeing slotted at predetermined spaced points and4 the edges ofifthe pairs of bars between slots being inclined, whereby one wall of each slot provides an abutment for a wire, slotted twister wheels journaled between said pairs of bars, one at each slot, and a reciprocally carried rackbar between each pair of bars in mesh with the twisters thereof. l

7 In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum including pairs of radially arrangedbars spaced about said drum, each set of bars being slotted at predetermined spaced points and the edges of the pairs of bars between slots being inclined, wherebykone wall of each slot provides an abutmentfor .a wire, the slots in the alter.-

1oo v nate pairs of bars having a slightly staggered relation to each other circumferentially of the drum, slotted twister wheels journaled between said pairs of bars, one at each slot, and a reciprocally carried rack-bar between each pair of bars in mesh with the twisters thereof. v

8. In a wire fence machine,lin combination, a revoluble drum, twister wheels and rack-bars in mesh therewith supported about theyl drum to rotate therewith, each rack-bar carrying a roller at one end, a cylindrically shaped member having a cam groove in which said rollers travel as the drum is revolved, said member having a split portion and the groove a break-joint effect at such split portion, whereby the rollers leaving one end of the groove and before entering the other end must travel thru the split portion of said member, and a reciprocallymovable bar adapted to engage each roller on its emergence from said cam groove and move the same thruout `the split portion of the member and into position to reenter said cam groove and smultaneousl .therewith cause a reciprocation of a rackar andthe rotation of such twister wheels. *il

` \9. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum, twister wheels and rack-bars in mesh therewith supported about the drum to rotate therewith,l each rack-bar carrying a roller at one end, a cylindricall shaped member having a cam groove in whic said rollerstravel as the drum is. revolved,

- said member having a split portion and the groove a break-joint effect at such split portion, whereby the rollers leavin one end of the groove and before entering t e other end must travel thru the 'split portion of said member, a reciprocally movable bar adapted to engage each roller on its emergence from said cam groove and move the samev thruout the split portion of the member and into position to reenter said cam groove and simultaneously therewith cause a .reciprocation of a rack-bar and the rotation of such twister wheels, and a crank-shaft connection for actuating said reci rocally movable bar..

10. In a wire ence machine, in'combination, a revoluble drum, twister wheels and rack-bars in mesh therewith, each rack-bar carrying a roller at one end,v a cylindrically shaped member having a cam groove in which said rollers travel, said member having a split portionVaxially of the drum and its.

cam groove communicatingwith said split portion at its opposite end portions, whereby the rollers leaving one end of the groove and before entering the other end must travel thru the 'split portion of said member, a 4reciprocally movable bar adapted to engage each rollervon its emergence from said cam groove and move-the same thruout the split portion of the member and into position to reenter said cam groove and simultaneously therewith cause a reciprocation of a rack-bar and the rotation of such twister wheels, 4said cam groovehaving a portion concentric with the drum to retain the rack-bars and twister wheels in predetermined posit-ions thruout a part of the travel of said drum, a shaft, and

a crank connection between said shaft and said reciprocally movable bar.

.11. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum, twister wheels and rack-bars in mesh therewith, each rack-bar carrying a roller at one end, a cylindricall shaped member having a cam groove in whic said rollers travel, said member having 'a split portion axially of the drum and its cam groove communicating with said split portion s at its opposite 4end portions, whereby the rollers leaving one end of the groove and before entering Vthe other end must travel thruthe split portion of said member, a re-v ciprocally'movable bar having a free end porltion adapted to engage each -roller on its emergence from said ca m groove and move the-same thruout the: split portion of the member and into osition to reenter said cam I. groove and sim taneously therewith cause v a reciprocation of a rack-bar and the rotation of such twister wheels, saidcam roove having a portion concentric with t e drum to retain the rack-bars and twister wheels in predetermined positions thruout a partof the travel-of said drum, a shaft, a crank con-` nection between said shaft and one end of said bar, a cam means onplone side of the path of travel of saidbar tof-'guide .it in its movement,

and guidin means engaging said baron the y opposite si e ofthe path of travel thereof.

12. In a wire vfence machine, in combination, a revolublev drum, twister wheels and rack-barsmeshing therewith, the latter oper.- ative during the rotation of the drum and the alternate rack-bars movablefrom opposite ends` of said drum, a cylindrically s tioned bars alternately in relation to each other, said bars having free end portions movable in the split portions of said members to engage said rollers on .their emergence, from a cam groove and move the same tothe entrance ends of said cam grooves and to reciprocate said rack-bars during the movement of the rollers in said split portions, the

-free ends'ofsaid bars providing switching surfaces across which the rollers travelwhen leaving one end of a cam groove and before entering the other end of such groove.

13. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum, a plurality of rackbars disposed on and about the drum,means to reciprocate alternate rack-bars in op osite directions during the rotation of the. rum,

-a plurality of slotted twister wheels associated with and operated by each rack-bar,

the twister wheels associated with'alternate racklbars having a slightly staggered relation with respect to each other, a plurality of wire guiding members arranged to deliver the weft or Woof wires to the twisters, a plurality of wire `guiding members arranged to deliver the warp lor strand wires tothe twisters, means to shift the warp or strand wire guidi vmeans in unison and in timed relationto t e positioning of the twisters to wire receiving positions, whereby to accommodate the positions of such wires to'the staggered positions of alternate rows 4of twisters,.and means to.Y shift the weftorwoof directions during the rotation of the wire guiding means ein unisn and in relation to the positioning of the twisters to wire receiving positions and alternately back and forth from one 'warp or strand wire to another, whereby the weft or Woof wires are woven back and forth front' one warp g1' t e strand wire to another and by means o twisters connected therewith between eac alternate movement.

14. In av wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum, a `plurality of rackbars disposed on and about the drum, means to-reciprocate alternate rack-bars in op osite um, a pluralit of slotted twister wheels associated wit and operated by. each rack-bar, the twister wheels associated` with alternate rack-bars having a sli htly staggered relation with respect to eac other, a lurality of wire guiding members arran e to deliver the weft or woof wires to t e twisters, a plurality of wire guiding members arranged to deliver the warp or strand wires to the twisters, means to shift the warp or strand wire guidi means in unison and/in timed relation to t e positioning of the twisters to wire receiving positions, whereby to accommodatethe positions of such wires to the staggered positions of alternate rows of twisters, means to shift the weft or woof wire guidin means in unisonand in timed relation to t e positioning of the twisters to wire receiving positions and alternately back and forth-from one warp or strand wireto another,`and means to depress the respective wires into the twisters associated with each rack-bar as each rack-bar and its twisters move to a predetermined position in advance of the wire guiding means, during the rotation of the drum.

15. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum, a plurality of rackbars disposed on and about the drum, means to reciprocate alternate rack-bars in opposite directions during the rotation of the drum, a plurality of slotted twister wheels associated with and operated by each rackbar, the twister wheels associated with alternate rack-bars having a sli htly staggered relation with respect to eac other, a plurality of wire guiding members arranged to deliver the weft or Woof wires to the twisters, a plurality of wire guiding members arranged to. deliver the warp or strand wires to the twisters, means to shiftthe warp or strand wire guiding means in unison and in timed relation to the positioning of the twisters to wire receiving po-` sitions, whereb `to accommodate the positions of such Wlres to the staggered positions of alternate rows of twisters, means to shift the weft or woof wire guiding means in unison and in timed relation to the positioning of the twisters to wire receiving positions and alternately back and forth from one warp or res tive-:wires into t e twisters associated wit each rack-bar as each rack-bar and its twisters move to vva predetermined position ,in advance of the wire guiding means, duringA the rotation ofthe drum, an operatin means, an eccentric connection between sai v depressing means and sald operatmg means,

-to reciprocate alternate rack-bars in opposite directions during the rotation of the drum, a plurality of slotted twister wheels associated with and operated by each rackbar, the twister wheels associated withl alternate rack-bars having a slightly staggered relation with res ect 'to each other, a pair of bars supported or movement axially of the drum, a shaft, means operated by said shaft to reciprocate one of said bars a distance corresponding to the -distance between the alternate staggered twisters, means operated by said bars a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent twisters. associated with each rack-bar, wire guiding means connected to and movable with4 said first mentioned bar for guiding and laying warp or strand wires in the twlsters, and wire guiding meansconnected to and movable with said second mentioned bar for guiding and laying weft or Woof wires in the twisters and for weaving said weft or Woof wires alternately between adjacent warp or strand wires for connection therewith.

17. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a revoluble drum a plurality of rackbars disposed on and about the drum, means tolreciprocate alternate rack-bars in opposite directions during. the rotation of the drum, a plurality of slotted twister wheels associated with and operated by each rackbar, the twister wheels associated with alternate rack-bars having a slightly'staggered relation with res ect to each other, a pair of bars supported or movement axially of the drum, a shaft, means operated by said shaft to reciprocate one of said bars a distance corresponding to the distance between the alternate staggered twisters, means operated v by said bars a distance corresponding to the `distance between adjacent twisters associated with each rack-bar, wire guidingmeans connected to and movable with said first mentioned bar for guiding and laying war or strand wires in the twisters, wire gui ing means connected to and movable with said second mentioned bar for guiding and strand notherlineans to depress the l: 

